starostwa

Starostwa, plural of starostwo, are the administrative offices of Polish powiats (counties). They constitute the executive apparatus of the powiat and are responsible for implementing the decisions of the county council and for performing tasks assigned to the county level by the law. The starostwo is headed by the starosta, who acts as the head of the county's executive board (zarząd powiatu) and is supported by deputy starosts. The council selects the starosta from among its members.

Starostwa coordinate and deliver county-level public services. Their remit commonly includes secondary education and the operation of powiat hospitals and health services, social welfare, public transport, and the maintenance of powiat roads. They also participate in spatial planning, environmental protection, culture and sport, and regional development. In many counties, the starosta's office also handles specialized administrative functions such as land and property management and cadastral services.

Administratively, starostwa operate under the powiat council and engage with gminas (municipalities) within the powiat, the voivodeship authorities, and central ministries. The offices are located in the county seat and provide a range of public services to residents, from formal administrative procedures to information and guidance on local government programs. The institution and the starosta's role were reinforced by post-1999 local government reforms, which established the current three-tier structure of voivodeships, counties, and gminas.